How is a Deep Plane Facelift Performed?

Deep plane facelift surgery is always performed under general anaesthesia in a fully accredited hospital with the assistance of a qualified anaesthetist. Depending on the complexity of the procedure it may take 3 to 4 hours, and Dr Turner recommends patient rest in hospital overnight before being discharged home the next day.

The procedure begins with careful marking of incision locations along the hairline, ear contours and under the chin. Dr Turner will mark the location of the deep plane entry point, areas of facial volume loss that needs to be corrected with fat transfer and important anatomical landmarks such as the frontal nerve. Next Dr Turner will infiltrate local anaesthetic is the areas to be dissected to minimize bleeding and discomfort after the procedure is completed.

Once the incisions are made, Dr. Turner will elevate the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the marked deep plane entry point. At this point Dr Turner will dissect under the SMAS in defined anatomical facial spaces, elevating the SMAS with the skin and subcutaneous tissue as one composite flap, and carefully releasing the retaining ligaments. The SMAS is then reposition in a vertical direction to correct midface and jowl laxity.

The neck is frequently addressed during a deep plane facelift, providing a harmonious transition between the face and neck. Through the incision for the deep plane facelift, Dr Turner can correct excess fat deposits with liposuction and correct deep neck laxity with a formal platysmaplasty neck lift. In many cases, fat transfer can be used in conjunction with a deep plane facelift to restore lost volume in areas like the cheeks, temples, and under the eyes. Fat transfer enhances the overall results for patients with significant volume loss.